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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 20 December 2012
The synthesis of mullite from kaolin clay and two precursors of aluminum: α-Al2O3 and Al(NO3)3 was investigated. In order to study the temperature effect, the system kaolin-α-Al2O3 was calcined in air in a range of 1200 to 1500°C, for 2 h. For the system kaolin-Al(NO3)3, the combustion method was employed, using urea as fuel, and calcined in air at 1500°C for 2 h. The products were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy and particle size analysis in order to analyze and compare their morphology and structure. The crystallographic study revealed an incomplete reaction between the kaolin and the α-Al2O3. Nevertheless, in the system kaolin-Al(NO3)3, it was obtained mullite with high purity and trace amounts of cristobalite.